Access To Extension Services By Agricultural Cooperative Members And Non-Members In Khartoum State: A Comparative Study

Access To Extension Services By Agricultural Cooperative Members And Non-Members In Khartoum State: A Comparative Study

Author:

Mohamed, Mustafa Elnour Ahmed

Abstract:

This study was undertaken to identify and analyze factors affecting access to agricultural extension services by private farmers and agricultural cooperative members in Khartoum State from a comparative perspective. The Technology Transfer and Extension Administration of Khartoum State’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Irrigation provides extension services to individual private farmers, and to farmer groups in cooperatives and other farming institutions. Policy-oriented studies are needed to assess the level of access to extension and other agricultural development services by farmers operating under different production and land tenure arrangements, and to suggest ways for their improvement. In this study, private farmers and agricultural cooperative members are compared in terms of individual- and farm-level variables and service access factors. The study is focused on analysis of differences between private farmers and agricultural cooperative members in terms of (1) age, (2) years of formal education, (3) access to extension information services, (4) access to credit, input supply and marketing services, (5) access to farm land, (6) areas under different crops, (7) volume of production of principal crops, (8) gross income from different crops, (9) level of awareness about extension information supply problems, and (10) level of satisfaction with the currently provided extension services. The representation of farmers in cooperatives involved random selection of 10 agricultural production societies from the ones operating in the rural areas of Khartoum-North locality. A stratified quota sampling procedure was employed for selection of 60 respondents to represent the selected agricultural cooperatives, and 30 farmers to represent the agricultural producers operating privately in neighboring areas. The primary data for the study were collected by means of individual interviews with respondents involving use of structured schedules (questionnaires). Secondary data were obtained from the records kept by the selected agricultural cooperatives and the State’s Technology Transfer and Extension Administration. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in descriptive data analysis and the testing of the study hypotheses. Analysis involved the generation of frequency distribution tables and charts, descriptive statistics, and t-test statistics. Data analysis showed that there were significant differences between private farmers and agricultural cooperative members in terms of access to land preparation services, improved seeds and pest control services, and access to credit and marketing services. The results of t-test analysis also revealed the existence of significant differences between private farmers and agricultural cooperative members in term of access to agricultural extension services. The findings suggest that private farmers have more access to agricultural extension services, whereas farmers in the agricultural cooperatives have more access to input supply services. Differences between private farmers and cooperative members were also detected in relation perception of extension problems and attitudes toward private financing of agricultural extension services. Based on the study findings, a set of recommendations were suggested for improving access to extension and other agricultural development services by private farmers and agricultural cooperative members in Khartoum State, including: 1- Establishment of effective links for strengthening technical cooperation between the State’s Technology Transfer and Extension Administration and the Boards of the agricultural cooperatives. The governing boards of the agricultural cooperatives need to be encouraged to give equal attention to provision of extension services to members as an integral part of their functions, rather than focusing primarily on supply of other agricultural development services. 2- Promoting the training and service delivery facilities of the State’s Technology Transfer and Extension Administration 3- Incorporation of capacity building of agricultural cooperative board members as integral part of the technical duties of the State’s Technology Transfer and Extension Administration. 4- Arranging for access to integrated agricultural development services by small farmers in Khartoum State through development of effective institutional coordination and group action by farmers.